Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-28
EDUCATED NEGROES.
Sc ne Interesting Cont rasts in she Recent
History OF the Race.


ATLANTA. Ga, May 23-The opening Of
another college for col0red people and
the report on the wars work OF our state
and city schools draws attention TO th,
wonderful cliangrS Of recent wears
changes which amaze the observer and MAXI
the Christian eSciaiIn, What hath God
wrought" Look TT these contrasts: On the
LIST of January, 1853, the 10000 and odd
colorel people III the south were in abi.ct
slavery; ON the same date il. 1868 they We're
the rulers uf seven sraiss and held the balance
of power in four ctlIers so sudden and ire
mendous Il change wrought many evils: u
political revolution followed and in nine
wears the colored people were practically
deprived of ali political power Then the
natural kindness of Christian white p-ople
reassertei itself III ai,iS TO education. and the
colored people started on n far surer path Ia
far more enduring power. Middle aged
people well remember when il was a crime Ia
teach one to read; now over I 200 Ouv colurrd
children are III the public schools OF the
south. schools supported from taxes cheerful
" paid by the whites, and Ill five southern
states the percentage OF attendance In such
schools Is greater than ia some OF the mos.
enlightened states i'll tue north II is TO-DAY
al unusual thing TO find coiored boy or girl
CT II years who cannot read-in this city a
very unusual thing. But in the country the
ratio OF iillteracy is still great. The next
census, however. i bound 10 show vast iai-
provement over that Of 1880: for the schools
have now teen in operation long enongh Tor
the educated young colored people 10 come
forward and count in the ranks of adults who
can read and write. The old ilhterate, are
still numerous enough To reduce our percent
age: but the census of 1900 will certainly
take away our reproach."
1t is To be hoped that one Of the immediate
results of educating the young colored popu-
lation will be 10 cure that domestic reckless
hess which II their worst inheritance from
slavery ana their tropical ancestors. To
marry young and produce immense families
without providing means of support in ad-
vance Is almost "A crime III a country like
this. The most marked effect on the colored
people is a rate of infant mortality that is
shocking. In no city in the south is the death
rate among their children as low u, among
the whites and in several it is double. In
proof, note these figures from the last census:
Louisiana had 1900 more colorel peopls
than white but go more white voters than
colorei: >. Is more white males Of militia age
than colore,i, 5,s.9 more colored females than
males, 1924 more white males than females
and an immense female surplus among
the cOlOret adults. West Virginia is the only
state in the south where the colored males Of
adult age equal the females Taking the
whole south together that census shows that
while the whites stand to the colored in the
ratio of lOO 10 i9l. the ratio of males Of
lighting age Is 100 To II The explanation is
in the terrific infant mortality among the
colored, especially of the boys. SO great
los Of infant male life OF course tends power
fully to an Increase of poverty: and II
thoroughly educating one generation makes
them prudent enough TO cure this evil. that
alo1e Will repay the cost J. J. SMITH.